Apply for certification with a foreign diploma

If you want to work as a teacher or preschool teacher in Sweden, you need a teaching certification in most cases. You need to have a diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers in order to apply for certification.

If all your certificates and documents are in order at the time of application, the Swedish National Agency for Education can make a decision quicker.

Working in Sweden

Certification and qualification are decisive

If you want to work as a teacher or preschool teacher in Sweden, you need to have a Swedish certification. Only teachers or preschool teachers with certification are entitled to permanent employment and have the right to set grades. You can work without certification for a limited period. At present some groups of teachers are also exempt from the certification requirement: mother tongue teachers, teachers of vocational subjects and teachers who teach in English in other subjects besides language.

Employed for one year at a time

You can be employed as a teacher or preschool teacher without certification for a limited period, but for a maximum of one year at a time. In order to work for a limited period without certification, you need to have adequate education and good proficiency in Swedish. The rule applies if there is not any certified teacher or preschool teacher to employ.

Teach as a mother tongue teacher

As a mother tongue teacher, you do not need certification if you have adequate education. There are no requirements for teacher training but education which is largely similar to teacher training is required.

Teach as a vocational studies teacher

As a vocational studies teacher, you do not need certification if you have adequate education and vocational knowledge.

Teaching in English which does not cover language teaching

You are exempt from the certification requirement if you teach in English in a bilingual school. The exemption does not apply to language teaching. A foreign diploma of education for teachers which corresponds to a Swedish diploma of education for teachers, as well as skills in teaching in English is required.

Certification requirements

You need to have a qualifying diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers in order to be awarded certification. If you have a foreign diploma of education for teachers and want a Swedish certification of teachers, you also need to have documented proficiency in Swedish. You also need to fulfil the national requirements within the areas of knowledge which are important for the profession in Sweden.

Demonstrate your proficiency in Swedish

You need to have proficiency in Swedish in order to work as a teacher or preschool teacher in Sweden. Your Swedish proficiency should correspond to ability which qualifies you for university studies in Sweden. If you do not have adequate proficiency in Swedish, we recommend that you start studying Swedish as soon as you have decided to work in Sweden.

If your mother tongue is Danish, Faeroese, Icelandic, or Norwegian, you do not need to present documents to support your Swedish proficiency.

You can verify your Swedish proficiency by demonstrating a pass grade or results in:

Swedish 3 or Swedish as a second language 3, alternatively Swedish B or Swedish as a second language B, from Komvux (municipal adult education)

Swedish for non-Nordic students from universities or colleges in Sweden

the Test in Swedish for University Studies (TISUS).

You can also be given credit for other Swedish proficiency, for example, a pass grade in Swedish 2 or Swedish as a second language 2 if the course is approved and it was completed before 1 July 2013.

National requirements

In order to be awarded certification, you need to fulfil the national requirements within the areas of knowledge which are important for the teacher and preschool teacher profession in Sweden.

Clarification of the national requirements:

If you want to become a qualified teacher or preschool teacher, you need to demonstrate that you have completed preparatory teaching studies to an adequate extent. If your preparatory teaching studies are inadequate, you can compensate by, for example, submitting certificates of other studies or service.

If you want to become a qualified teacher or preschool teacher, you need to demonstrate that you have completed subject studies to an adequate extent. If inadequate, you can compensate it by, for example, submitting certificates of other studies or service.

As a preschool teacher, you must demonstrate that you have knowledge of reading and writing development or reading and writing learning. You can demonstrate your knowledge by, for example, a certificate of studies or service in a Swedish preschool or preschool class.

As a teacher in years 1-3 of compulsory school, you need to have knowledge of reading and writing development or reading and writing learning. You can demonstrate your knowledge by, for example, a certificate of studies or service in a Swedish preschool class or in years 1-3 of compulsory school.

As a teacher in years 1-6 of compulsory school, you need to demonstrate that you have knowledge of mathematics and the language of your country of education, alternatively Swedish. You can demonstrate your knowledge by, for example, service or a certificate of studies in mathematics and the country of education’s language, alternatively Swedish.

If you want to become a qualified teacher in the subject physical education and health, you need to demonstrate your knowledge of swimming and life-saving. You can demonstrate your knowledge of swimming and life-saving by, for example, studies in physical education and health which cover swimming and life-saving.

If you want to become a qualified teacher in religion, you need to demonstrate that you have knowledge of all world religions. You can demonstrate your knowledge of religion by, for example, a certificate of service or studies in religion which covers all world religions.

If you want to become a qualified teacher in modern languages or English, you need to demonstrate that you have contrastive skills. This means that based on the Swedish language, you can teach pupils in modern languages or English. You can demonstrate your knowledge by, for example, a certificate of university studies or service.

In order to teach in the subjects Swedish or Swedish as a second language, you need to demonstrate your knowledge by a certificate of studies at a university in Sweden.

Before you apply

It is important that your certificates are in order before you apply. You should send copies of your certificates, not original documents. You should only send original documents upon request by the Swedish National Agency for Education. All certificates which you submit with your application should be in the language which is spoken in the country of your education.

Translation of certificates

The certificates should be in the language spoken in the country of your education, but must also be translated to Swedish or English. The translation to Swedish or English must be performed by an authorised translator. You do not need to translate the document if it is written in Danish, Finnish, Faeroese, Icelandic, Meänkieli, Norwegian or Sami.

You can find authorised translators at Kammarkollegiet (the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency) or the Federation of Authorised Translators in Sweden:

Which certificates should you submit?

a copy of your diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers (all pages)

a list of subjects with courses and grades

certificate of proficiency in Swedish

Certificate of service

If you have worked as a teacher or preschool teacher in Sweden or abroad, a service certificate from an education provider, head teacher or preschool head can compensate for the differences between your foreign education and a Swedish diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers. You can submit a service certificate already when you apply for certification; alternatively wait for the us to inform you that you need to supplement your application in some way.

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If you have changed your name

If you have changed your name, you need to attach an extract from the population register from the Swedish Tax Agency or an equivalent agency which handles national registration data. Information on the change of name should be stated in the extract from the population register. In order to show that you have changed your name, you can also submit a marriage certificate or birth certificate.

Official certificate on teaching qualification

If you have a diploma from a country where you need an official certificate to verify your teaching qualification, you should submit this with your application. This applies for those, for example, with diplomas from Great Britain or Germany.

Official transcript

If you have a diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers from a country where the list of subjects is in the form of an official transcript, you should contact your foreign higher education institution and request them to submit the certificate directly to the Swedish National Agency for Education. You should contact your foreign higher education institution in connection with submitting your application on certification. The higher education institution should send your official transcript to:

SkolverketBox 4002171 04 SolnaSweden

For those with diplomas from Afghanistan

If you studied in Afghanistan, you need to request a verification of your educational documents and your identity from the Embassy of Afghanistan in Stockholm before submitting an application for certification of teachers.

Application

If you have a diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers, you can apply for certification. You can apply by filling in the application form and submitting it together with the certificates which verify your diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers. Read more below the heading “before you apply.”

You can apply for certification to the Swedish National Agency for Education. It is not necessary for you to have a Swedish personal identity number or to reside in Sweden for the application and grant of certification.

Application fee

It costs SEK 1,500 to apply for a teacher or preschool certification of teachers. The Swedish National Agency for Education will contact you when we have received your application and when we want you to pay the application fee.

Quicker decision with complete application

You can influence the processing duration of your case by submitting all your documents and certificates at the time of application.

Submit your application

You can submit your application by mail or e-mail. Ensure that you download the form before you start filling it in if you want to send it by e-mail, and it is advisable to attach your scanned documents in PDF format.

When you submit your application you should submit:

a filled in application form

a copy of your diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers (all pages)

a list of subjects with courses and grades

certificate of proficiency in Swedish

Ensure that you submit copies of your certificates and they should be in the language which is spoken in the country of your education. The certificates should also be translated to Swedish or English if they are not in any of the following languages: Danish, Finnish, Faeroese, Icelandic, Meänkieli, Norwegian or Sami.

Apply here

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Process

Your application is reviewed in date order

The Swedish National Agency for Education processes all incoming applications by the order in which they are received. You will get confirmation when we have received your application. The processing duration of applications varies depending on the type of diploma and which qualifications you have applied for.

How long does it take to receive a decision?

The current processing duration for those with a foreign diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers is approximately 4-6 months. Sometimes we require supplementations and then we will contact you. It may take longer if your case requires supplementation.

1. The Swedish National Agency for Education registers and reviews your application

The Swedish National Agency for Education registers and reviews your application. You will receive a confirmation when your application and documents have been registered as well as information on how to pay the application fee. The Swedish National Agency for Education will inform you if any information is missing from your application and whether you need to supplement it in any way. You have two weeks to supplement your case.

The Swedish National Agency for Education will send your case to the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) for validation of your foreign documents only when your case is complete.

If the application fee is not paid or any supplementations are not provided within the stipulated time frame, the Swedish National Agency for Education cannot assess your documents and your case will be dismissed.

2. UHR evaluates your foreign education

The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) is the agency in Sweden responsible for evaluating foreign studies. UHR examines whether your foreign credentials entitles you to a teaching qualification and whether it corresponds to a Swedish diploma of education for teachers or preschool teachers. UHR is also the agency that, in some cases, has contact with the higher education institution in the country of education.

UHR sends its assessment of your foreign documents to the Swedish National Agency for Education. The Swedish National Agency for Education will then inform you whether your diploma corresponds to a Swedish diploma or whether you need to supplement your education in any manner.

If you need to, or choose to supplement your application with additional documents while the case is ongoing, the Swedish National Agency for Education will also send these to UHR for an evaluation.

3. The Swedish National Agency for Education makes an overall assessment

The Swedish National Agency for Education makes an overall assessment of UHR’s statement on your foreign education and your Swedish qualifications. The Swedish National Agency for Education will then inform you about whether you need to supplement your application in any way. If, for example, you cannot demonstrate that you fulfil the national requirements, the Swedish National Agency for Education may request that you supplement your education before you are qualified to teach. You have two weeks to supplement your case.

4. The Swedish National Agency for Education decides on certification

The Swedish National Agency for Education decides on your case. In the first instance, we send the decision to your e-mail address and in the second instance to your home.

After we receive your application, it currently takes approximately 4-6 months for you to receive your decision. If you need to supplement your case, it will take longer.

Decision

If you have been granted certification

When you have been granted certification as a teacher or preschool teacher, you do not need to register with any other agency. In order to find work, you should contact an employer or Arbetsförmedlingen (The Swedish Public Employment Service) directly.

If your application is dismissed

The most common reason for why your application is dismissed is that you have not shown that you have a qualifying diploma of education as a teacher or preschool teacher. If your application is dismissed and you want to supplement your education in order to obtain a Swedish teaching- or preschool teaching degree, you should contact the study guidance of a university or university college which offers teacher or preschool teacher training programmes. The university or university college can also assess which previous qualifications you can count towards your new degree. You can apply for teacher training programmes on www.studera.nu.

If we reject your application

If we reject your application, it is because you have submitted an incomplete application, which we have been unable to assess. Common reasons for rejection are that the application fee has not been paid, that we are missing a signed application form or that necessary certificates or documents have not been submitted. In order to assess your case, you need to submit a new application.

If we decide that you need to go through compensation measures or additional qualifying steps

Compensations measures if you have a diploma from an EU, EEA country, UK or Switzerland

If your qualifications do not meet all of the requirements for certification, our decision in your case may contain information about compensation measures that you need to complete. Our decision will tell you what you need to do. Compensation measures might include university studies, certified service as a teacher or preschool teacher (a so-called adaptation period) or an aptitude test.

When you have completed your studies, your adaptation period or your aptitude test, you need to send us documentation proving that you have successfully completed the compensation measures.

Additional qualifying steps if you have a diploma from a country outside EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland

If your qualifications do not meet all of the requirements for certification, our decision in your case may contain information about complementary steps that you need to complete. Our decision will tell you what you need to do. Additional qualifying steps might include university studies or certified service as a teacher or preschool teacher.

When you have completed your studies or teaching service, you need to submit a new application. Along with your application, please send in documents proving that you have successfully completed the additional qualifying steps. If you have served as a teacher or preschool teacher, please use the forms for certified service provided by us.

Decision on professional qualifications

If you have applied for certification with a teaching degree or preschool teaching degree from an EU/ EEA country or Switzerland, your decision will also cover an assessment of your professional qualifications. However, a recognition of your professional qualifications does not grant you eligibility to teach. Being eligible to work as a teacher or preschool teacher in Sweden requires a certification of teachers or preschool teachers. If the Swedish National Agency for Education cannot recognise your professional qualifications, this will be stated in the decision. At that stage, we will also inform you about what you can do to receive recognition of your professional qualifications.

How to appeal

If you think that our decision is incorrect you are entitled to appeal. We must receive your appeal within three weeks of you receiving the decision from us. You can appeal by submitting a written explanation of why you are dissatisfied with the decision. The appeal should contain the case number, your preferred changes and the reasons for why the Swedish National Agency for Education’s decision should be changed according to you. We will then review your case again to see whether there are reasons for us to change our decision. If we believe that the decision should not be changed, we will refer your case to the Administrative Court which will assess the case independently.

The appeal is addressed to the Administrative Court in Stockholm, but it should be sent or delivered to:

Register of certified teachers and preschool teachers

In accordance with the Ordinance on the register for teachers and preschool teachers, the Swedish National Agency for Education keeps a register of all certified teachers and preschool teachers. The register is used by education providers, head teachers, the Swedish Schools Inspectorate etc. to secure the qualifications of teachers and preschool teachers.

You can obtain an extract from the register by e-mailing the Swedish National Agency for Education at